WOW! Thanks for all the suggestions. I hope I don't get too long winded, but I'd like to respond to some of them. First there are some design constraints: The kitchen is tiny, only 88 square feet, we plan on keeping the white appliances for now, heat from lighting is an issue, we can't install a vented range hood and the worst "wall" will be the first one you see. We still don't have a feel for what we want it to be. Normally you start with a concept and if something complements it or advances it you use it, if it doesn't you reject it. To me we started this bass ackward, so I'm still not grounded. I kind of feel like we'd like something elegantly playful and the DW is thinking beachy? I'm having a hard time transforming what we have into beachy. I know it would be easier to change the appliances and lighting, but lighting is in a transitional phase right now with LED's just entering the market. It makes more sense to integrate the fluorescents into the design and update later. We thought about pendants, but the ceiling isn't really high enough nor wide enough. Layering the light makes sense. Spotting the faucet and sink area seems like a no-brainer after all your comments. Adding under-cabinet lights would highlight the granite, again another no-brainer. These would solve the problem of the "worst wall"" wall during night-time hours as well. Color is still a problem. We are leaning towards blues and greens, but getting the right one is difficult. You all know how a shade or tone can make a huge difference. We tried some black pulls on the cabinets and it really brought the black out in the granite, but it was too much, a little formal for us. I went to Lowes and grabbed 9 baby blue knobs and slapped then on the drawers. It changed the mood completely. It was the wrong shade of blue according to the wife, but the point was made. If anyone has a specific color they think might work, I would appreciate it. Is anyone familiar with"Spa Blue"? Thanks for the complements on the pulls. I made the pulls and knobs myself. I found the hardware and adapted it. It took quite a while so they are dear to me, however, they probably should go. We tried about 50 different pulls and the ones that looked the best were the simple "euro" pulls. They made a nice counterpoint to the sculptural quality of the faucet and they introduced a vertical element that helps in a small space. They may still be subject to change. We wanted to paint most of the walls one color and put a darker tone on the side with the range. We can accomplish that with paint, tile, wood, etc. It would be nice to add some texture to that wall as there isn't much in the room. As mocasinlanding was suggesting bead-board wallpaper, I was out cutting tongue and groove for the area behind the stove as a trial. We were thinking of painting it high gloss and again it would add a vertical element. I think I might like a little more texture and might go with bead-board rather than the tongue and groove. The tongue and groove I used was from Lowe's and is only about 1/4 inch thick. Cost only $9 to do the whole area behind the range. Not bad for a trial. We found a tile sample we liked and might try some of the colors. We thought of using it behind the range, but it might be too busy. Here it is: /> As usual, the color is off, its bluer. A solid color glass in a larger tile is another thought. What do you think? Glass tile may be dated soon and the wood treatments have a more timeless and "beachy" quality If anyone has any more ideas, I'd love to hear them, especially ways to make the first wall you see more interesting. Thanks again for all your comments. I now realize this is going to take a lot longer than I thought!

So sorry that I didn't see these more recent comments. I haven't been on GW lately. Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and lovely compliments : ) I'm only home on the weekends now, since my DD's ballet training is becoming more intense in NYC. I miss my kitchen most days!! I'll try and answer all of your questions. Elisa our DCS is a few years old. We bought it before we remodeled when our old range went kaput. I love it. The five burners are amazing. I can fit SO MUCH all at once. I'll post a photo to show you what I mean. Our oven is large and has a convection fan. When we were shopping ranges, the guy at the appliance store told me it's a reliable workhorse, which it has been so far. One of my favorite features is the ultra low burner setting. When you turn the knob all the way it goes to this ultra low setting. So without having to try and adjust the flame low, you just turn the knob all the way and it goes to this setting and the flame can't go out. Even if the flame did go out, it has the self re-ignite feature. MIssy the counter are Julia Soapstone from Texeira in N.J. I adore them. Kngwd I know whatcha mean! I can't believe my "baby" is 23. When we built the house he was still in my belly! KitchenDetective the greenhouse is my husband's project. It's 60 feet long by 20 something feet wide. The cover is two layers of plastic with pumped air in between. He grows stuff in there in the summer that likes heat. But then he also plants another crop of greens, carrots, beets, etc in the late summer. The idea is to get this second crop to be full grown by the time early winter sets in. When winter sets in the plants become dormant. They don't freeze in the greenhouse because he covers the rows with plastic and they keep warm in this way. The moisture also gets trapped under the plastic so the rows stay moist without being watered. Anyway, then all winter we can go out and lift the plastic and pick fresh veggies : ) View from inside the greenhouse

"I wouldn't mind posting pics of my kitchen, even if it is a standard white Shaker, but I can't figure out how to add them.:( " Me either, kiddo. I've tried and tried. BUT when the time comes that I have something to post I'll beg someone to do it for me BECAUSE I won't have granite, an island, white cabinets or pendant lights. I like all those things in YOUR kitchen but my 1880 farm house isn't that kind of house. My kitchen will be for the working poor who like Formica counter tops. And it will be better than what I have. So many times I see the before picture and think, wow! I like that one! and then find out it's been ripped out and replaced. So I will eventually post my kitchen to give hope to someone else who doesn't have a lot of money to spend on a kitchen. I did splurge on the farm sink. But for every item that cost more than the budget, I found something else that was cheaper. I'm still on budget. I have to give credit to this forum for every decision I made. I'm so glad I found it when this kitchen was just a gleam in my eye.

We had a kitchen done for one of our clients on 30/01/2014 in Northwich area. We use only the finest materials for our in-house fabrication of granite, quartz and marble worktops. We make sure that we supply and install only high quality to kitchen worktops that adds the wow factor to our clientsâ kitchen space. Although our showroom has many design patterns and colours to choose from in Granite, Quartz and Marble, the customer agreed on Black and White Granite with a marble type vein. The material we used was Granite Cosmic Black 30mm. We made sure the installation was as quick as possible. The requirements were: 30mm granite worktops with 100mm upstands, drainer grooves, polished sink cut-out, tap hole and hob cut-out. The client also requested a back splash behind hob. We have different colours and patterns of granite, quartz and marble worktops available in-store. We aim to provide exceptional service as our fitters are highly skilled and have years of experience in kitchen installation. Visit our showroom or our website http://www.cheshiregraniteworktops.co.uk to view examples of our work and our client testimonials. You can also speak to our friendly staff members today on 01565 300065 to see how we bring your kitchen space to life. Here is a link that might be useful: Cheshire Granite Worktops